“It’s also a good reminder to hang up on any telemarketer trying to pressure you into one of these so-called ‘opportunities.’" AG Ellen Rosenblum

The Oregon Department of Justice settled with a New York-based telemarketing company accused of shilling fraudulent work-at-home schemes. The agreement, in which executives of the various online firms admit no wrongdoing, bans them from doing business in Oregon and requires full refunds for any customers here.

Michael M. Savage and Brendon A. Pack are named as heads of the various companies listed in the deal, including The Tax Club, Inc.; Success Planning Group; My Business Credit Builder; The Success Online; Business Success Online; Ikongo; Manhattan Professional Group, Inc.; 5410, Inc.; All Access Books; and Prestige Financial.

Consumers who are customers of any of these entities must file a complaint with the state by phone (877-877-9392) or online to qualify for a refund. There is no deadline to apply.

The case secured refunds for three Oregon victims, who lost a combined $23,492, as well as refunds for any customers who file complaints.

The defendants also must pay $50,000 to a consumer education fund. If the justice department finds executives miss deadlines to pay refunds or have withheld pertinent information, more fines and an additional $50,000 would be due.

According to the FTC, the companies' operators called people interested in starting a home-based business saying they were associated with other firms the consumer had worked with. The federal case alleged that The Tax Club representatives and its associated operators then convinced consumers to buy products required for their business to be successful, including tax-return preparation, customized business planning and counseling. The fraudsters continued to call customers to sell other products and would charge several thousand dollars for each product as well as monthly fees, the federal case alleges.

“This is another victory in my office’s aggressive campaign to protect Oregonians from telemarketers trying to dupe Oregonians with ‘work-at-home’ scams,” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a release after Friday's filing of the deal.

“It’s also a good reminder to hang up on any telemarketer trying to pressure you into one of these so-called ‘opportunities.’”